An essential collection of essays by leading political thinkers on liberalism at the end of the twentieth century.

Liberalism and the Moral Life presents the thoughts of twelve prominent scholars redrawing the map of liberalism: Richard Ashcraft, Benjamin R. Barber, Seyla Benhabib, William Galston, Amy Gutmann, Stephen Holmes, George Kateb, Steven Lukes, Susan Moller Okin, Nancy Rosenblum, Judith N. Shklar, and Charles Taylor. In now-classic essays that go beyond the conventional defense of liberalism based on moral skepticism or the possibility of discovering neutral principles, these writers consider possibilities for reinspiriting liberal thought. They offer fresh arguments for the moral status of individualism and argue that distinctively liberal virtues and practices not only sustain democracy, but also undergird what should be considered a moral life. Moving beyond theory, the authors point to a variety of institutional contexts within liberal democracy that provide moral education and opportunities for expressing commitment to substantive moral values.

Nancy L. Rosenblum is the Senator Joseph S. Clark Professor of Ethics in Politics and Government emerita at Harvard University and the author of numerous books, including Good Neighbors: The Democracy of Everyday Life in America and (with Russell Muirhead) Ungoverning: The Attack on the Administrative State and the Politics of Chaos.

An important book and timely collection that will be accessible to a wide audience. - Choice

Liberal political theory has been given a rough ride over the past decade…Liberal thinkers are, however, not without resources to make a spirited reply. That is the message of this valuable collection. - Times Literary Supplement

Liberalism and the Moral Life is an important new contribution to liberal thought. It encourages and helps us to rethink what it is to be a liberal. - Fletcher Forum